Interlocking device for a surface grinding machine



Feb- 2, 1960 E. w. COUTURE ET AL 2,923,102

INTERLOCKING DEVICE FOR A SURFACE GRINDING MACHINE 5 SheetsSheet 1 FiledSept. 20, 1957 iii@- Feb- 2, 1960 E. w. COUTURE ET AL 2,923,102

INTERLOCKING DEVICE FOR A SURFACE GRINDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2Q, 19575 Shee'cxs-SheefI 2 A, l j@ Wl if Mim??? Feb. 2, 1960 E. w. COUTUREETA'L 2,923,102

INTERLCCKING nEvICE ECR A SURFACE CEINDINC MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Sept. 20. 1957 .I -ll ./n/A/ Y l.

Feb 2, 1960 v E w. COUTURE ll-:T AL 2,923,102

INTERLOCKINGi DEVICE FOR A SURFACE GRINDING MCHINE Filed Sept. 20, 19575 Sheets-Sheet 4 @413 Q 10g Y I /0`\ da M i L@ ,T A? m v\\\\\\ 1f/i 7 O"j W I Feb. 2, 1960 E. w. couTuRE Erm. 2,923,102

NTERLOCKING DEVICE FOR A SURFACE GRINDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledSept. 20. 1957 United Stat,

The present invention relates to a hydraulic operating andcontrolsystemfor use in' a` grindingmachine, and more particularly to an interlockingdevice `connected between manually operable' controls' forVelfectingmovements -of two relatively movable slides of the machine.

The invention',` as herein disclosed is" embodied in a hydraulically'operated surface grinding machine of the general type" having atraversing work. supporting'tabla a machine columnmounted froml the basefor cross` feeding movements relative to the table, and a grinding wheelcarriage movably mounted on' the feed columnv for vertical positioningmovements relative 'to the table'.

It is a' principal object of the invention to' provide in a machine ofthe general type described having relatively' movable slides and"alternatively available power and manual feeds for `each of said slides,an interlockingV device having alternative positions in which the powerfeed for one or the other slide is locked out of operation, whileleaving the manual feed for that slide and both the power and the manualfeed for the other slide available.

It is a furtherl object of the invention toA provide in a surfacegrinding machine of the' type referred to having hydraulically operatedmeans for `effecting stepped Vcross feeding and' vertical downwardmovements of the column support and the grinding wheel carriagerespectively, an interlocking device connected between saidhydraulically operated' means to permit one only of said hydraulicallyoperated means to function at'on'e time.

More specifically it is an object of the invention toV provide aninterlocking device which is connected be'-` tween a power feed controlby means of which relative cross feeding movements of the table and`grinding wheel are effected-,v andi a secondi power feed control bymeans of whichlrel'ative vertical positioning rrlovements of thetrablzeand` th'efgrindingwbeefare effected, saidinterloclo` ihgdevicebeing vshiftable alternatively to lock either one ofsaid power feedZcontrols outfofA operation, while lea'v-i ing the otherof'ysaid powerfeed controls available for activeoperation, and at the same' timeleaving thecon'- t`r'ols for'eifectin'g manual operation of each of saidcross feed a'nd"verl.ica1'v` feeds available,

- Witl'i'the above'andotlier objects vin view asA may here#` i'naft'er`appearA the several features of the invention` consfist in the devices,combinations and arrangement of partshereinafter' described' and`claimed which; togetherV` withthe adyantage'slto beobtaine'd thereby,will be readily understood'by .oh'efskilled in the art' from thefollowing descriptiontaken `in=iconnection with the accompanyingdrawings'- ini which: l

Figl 1 isla:` View' ini right'side'elevation of a surface grindingLmacliinf embodying-'finy a preferred form the several features'o'ftheinvention;` 4 l 'Figi 2 is aviewir front? elevationoffthegrinding machine'shownin'Fig; 1 withthe'grinding wheelcarriag'e"andfuppel"l part of thecolurnn removed;

Figli 3V4 ,is'anfer-ilarg'edy detail vie'win front elevation' ofassale?. Y Patented Feb. 2, 1960 2 for imparting vertical movements tothe grinding wheel carriage;y

Figi 4'isf a detail sectional view taken on a line 4-"4 of Fig. 3, on anenlarged scale to illustrate particularly the interlocking devicebetween the manual controls for the power ros's feed and power verticaldown feed;

Fig) 5 is a' detailv sectional View taken on a line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of substantially the parts shown'inl'Fig. 3 l

Fig.A 7 is a sectional view taken on a line 7-7 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is" a vertical sectional view taken on a line 8 8 of Fig. 3 ofthe cross .feed valve assembly illustrating particularly vthe cross feedreversing selector valve, theV cross-.feed control valve and the truingand rapid positioning selector valve;

Fig. 9 is a sectional View taken on line 9 9 of Fig.- 8 illustrating4particularly the' cross feed reversing selector valv'eandr-the crossfeed control valve;

Fig: 10y isy a sectional view taken on a line 10-10 of Fig..9..illu`strating particularly the c1o`s`s feed reversing selector valv'eand the'cross feed` measuring valve;`

i Figf. lllis' a sectional view taken on a line 11-11 of Fig.l0ri'llust'r'at'ing particularly the .cos's feed control and the'crossfeed-measuring devicejand Fig. l2 is a diagram of thefhydraulic controlsfor effecting operation-.of the reverse cross feed and the vertical downfeed for the machine:

. Th'ef iroeritionv isl herein disclosedL as embodied in a surface:grinding machine of the general' type having abase 30,- .a table-.32ladapted for traversing movement on Ways 34, son` the base', a crossslide which takes the form of a machine column 38 which is mounted onways on th'ebase 3G forV forward and back movement with relatio'nfjtothe table, and a grinding wheel carriage 42 which isl adapted forvertical movement on-ways formed on theimachine columnS;r

Thel carriage 42 providessupport for a forwardly eX- tending arbor 44onwhich is mounted a grinding wheel 46. The arbor 44at its rear end isconnected by a pulley drive 48 with anelectric motorl 5t), also mountedon the carriage; 42.

Crossv feeding movements of the column support 38 andgrinding wheel- 46supported thereby-are effected alternatively by a hydraulically operatedmeans and by hand-,operated mechanical means. For hydraulic crossfeeding operation of the column support 38 a hydraulic cylinder 54Visprovided as best shown in Figs. l and 7 secured' at its rear end to avertically extending bracket 56 fmounted from the base and-providedwithapiston 58 which is connected to a downwardly extending bracket 60formed 0n the underside of the column support 38. Cross. feedingmovements are imparted to the column support 338' by means of ahandwheel 62 secured to the forward en-d' of a rotatable shaft 64 (seeFig. 7.) Vmounted in` the'vbase and which toward its rear end 'is formedwith a Screw thread 66 adapted for engagement with a half-nut 68 formedin a recess 69` cut through the vertically shiftable plunger 70 of across feed nut throwout hydraulicv cylinder 71- which forms an integralpart of the column support 38.

The plunger 70 and half-nut 68 are normally held in ai depressedscrewthread engaging position as shown in Fig. by means of a compressionspring '72 mountedbe tween Va recess inthe upper end ofthe plunger `7@and a recessrformed in the bracket 60. During-operation ofthe crosslslide by hydraulic means, the plunger 70 isV moved upwardly againsttheV pressure of the spring-72` to' disengagethe half-,nut 68 from thescrew thread 66.

i Ashbestshown in Figs. land 2 inclusive thetable 32 is operated byhydraulic means or alternatively througlr mechanical connectionsincluding a manually operated handwheel at the front of the machine. Forhydraulically operating the table a table cylinder 80 is provided whichis connected at the left as shown in Fig. 2 to a bracket 82 on the base,the associated piston 84 being secured to a.

depending bracket 86 secured to the right hand end of the table.

Connections for manually operating the table include a table handwheel88 which is secured to a rotatable shaft 90 which is connected throughintervening connections to a pinion 104 which meshes with a large gear106 on a short shaft 108 mounted on the base. Motion is transmitted tothe table 32 from the shaft 108 by means of a strap 110 which passesaround a pulley 112 on the shaft 108 and thence upwardly around twopulleys 114, 116 mounted on the base directly beneath the table. One endof the strap passing around the pulley 114 is secured to the table 32toward the left hand end of the table, and the other end of the strap110 passing around the pulley 116 is secured to the table 32 at itsright hand end as` best shown in Fig. 2.

The vertical feed for the grinding wheel carriage asV best shown inFigs. l, 2, 3 and 6 is effected alternatively through mechanicalconnections actuated by a vertical feed handwheel 130 and byhydraulically operated devices including a vertical feed cylinder 132which operates through a pick mechanism hereinafter described to effecta stepped vertical feeding movement of the carriage. Handwheel 130 ismounted on the forward end of a rotatable vertical feed handwheel shaft134 which carries at its rear end a large pinion 136 adapted to meshwith a pinion 138 on a parallel shaft 140 (see Fig. 6).

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 3 a bevel gear 142 mounted on the shaft 140meshes with a bevel gear 144 secured to. the lower end of a verticalgrinding wheel carriage feed screw shaft 146 which is threaded toreceive a nut 148 fixed to the carriage 42.

The hydraulic mechanism provided for effecting a power down steppedfeeding movement of the grinding wheel carriage comprises a hydrauliccylinder 132, which, as best shown in Fig. 3, is provided with avertically dis` posed plunger 150 and an upwardly extending stem portion152 which engages within a sleeve bearing member 153 secured to themachine frame. A compression spring 154 coiled about the stem 152 andthe sleeve bearing member 153 and seated at its lower end against acollar 156 on the stem 152 and at its upper end against an abuttingshoulder of the machine frame, acts to force the plunger yieldablydownwardly to its fully retracted position as shown in Fig. 3 which isdetermined by adjustment of a stop member 160 screw threaded into thelower end of the hydraulic cylinder 132. An upward movement of theplunger 150 of the hydraulic cylinder 132 acts through a pick mechanismto impart a stepped vertical movement to the grinding wheel carriage42'. j

The pick mechanism referred to comprises 'an L-shaped pawl lever 164pivoted at 166 on a pawl supporting arm or bracket 168 loosely supportedto turn on the vertical handwheel supporting shaft 134. A horizontal armon the pawl lever 164 has a pin and slot connection with the up wardextension 152 of the hydraulic cylinder plunger 150.

The downward extension of the pawl lever 164 carries av causes the pawl170, the pawl lever 164 and the bracket` 168 to be rotated as a unitcounterclockwise about the shaft 134 and to rotate the ratchet 172,shaft l134 and gear 136 in said counterclockwise direction.

The length of each individual feeding movement of theVY pick mechanismis determined by means of knurl-headed adjusting screw 176 which isadjustably positioned to enthe slidable column support 38 is controlled.Inasmuchas the operation of the table including the table operatingvalves form specifically no part of the present invention, no specificillustration or description of these parts is included herewith.

The cross feed valve assembly housed in block 92 includes a cross feedreversing selector valve 240 having a rotatably shiftable valve body242, a cross fed measuring valveV 244 having an axially shiftable valvebody 246,a

cross feed control valve 243 having an axially shiftablel valve body 250and a truing and rapid positioning selector valve 252 having a rotatablevalve body 254.

Manual controls for the several valves of the cross feed valve assemblyinclude a cross feed reversing hand lever 258 (see Figs. 2, 4 and 5)which is secured to a rock shaft 260 (see Fig. 9) secured by a pin 262to the, valve body 242 of the cross feed reversing selector valve` 240.The amount of the cross feeding movement imparted to the column support38 by the operation of the cross feed measuring valve is determined bymeans of an adjusting screw 264 (see Fig. 1l) which is provided withanextension 266extending through the side wall of the machine and with aknurled head 268. Adjustment of the screw 264 determines the length oftravel of the.

valve body 246 and thus provides a metered supply of fluid underpressure to the cross feed hydraulic cylinder 54. A manual control isprovided at the side of the machine for positioning the truing and rapidpositioning selector valve in the form of a hand lever 272 having threealternative true, grind and fast operating positions.v

The power down feed hydraulic cylinder 132, as best shown in Figs. 3 and12, is controlled by means of a down feed selector valve 276 providedwith a rotatable valve body 278. An inlet port to the valve is providedat 280 and an outlet port from the valve to the down feed cylinder 132is indicated at 282. The position of the down feed selector valve body278 is controlled by means of a down feed selector lever 284 which isshiftable.

between operating and Off positions.

In accordance with `the invention an interlocking device having twoalternate locking positions is connected between the down feed selectorlever 284 and the cross feed reversing hand lever 258, and is soconstructed and arranged that, when the interlocking device is moved toone position, the cross feed is locked out of operation before thevertical power down feed lever can be turned to the operating position,and when the interlocking device is moved to the alternate position, thedown feed lever 284 is locked in the Olf position before -the cross feedselector lever can be turned. to the operating position. As hereinaftermore fully pointed out in connection with the hydraulic diagram, Fig.12, the manual and power controls for the vertical feed and for thecross feed are so arranged that when the power cross feed is locked outof operation both the manual and power vertical feed are available tothe operator and also the manual cross feed. In the alternate positionof the interlocking device when the power vertical feed is locked out ofoperation, both the manual and power cross feed and also the manualvertical feed are available to the operator.

The interlocking device which is best shownV in Figs. 4 and 5 comprisesa plunger 286 which is mounted to slide in a generally tubular bracket288 secured to an external end surface of the base 30 ofthe machine. Oneend 51 the 'hulaeff fue down reeel saneren-lever; 2811. Atits otherend-the plunger is sinnlarly'tnrinedown toprovde a pin` 29e-whicharranged for engagement wit-n aisle; 296- formcdinthe hub of thelcrssfeetl-reversirghand lever 258. Thearrangementissueh that the mvefnentof` the plunger andpins-out ofltlocking! engagement withone-controllever causes'- the other lpin-1to1j movesirnuli taneouslyinto-locking engagement with theotl-er levert A- small handactuated knob2981 having asternwhich is secured to the plunger 2856 andprojects-outwardly through a slot-303m the tubular'casing 288 provides aconvenientmeans to move the plunger-fromone tothe other lockingposition. A springpressed' ball 302 mounted in-a trans-verse boreformedin the r-:asirigl`288-A is arranged for engagement alternatively witheither of two circular grooves formed in the-plunger '28o-to holdtheplunger yieldably in either of4 its locking positions; l

The-operation of the hydraulicoperatingand control system for effectingcross feeding movements-of'- the colurnnsupport 38 andverticalfeeding-movement-off-the grinding wheel carriage 42 will be`particularly described in connection with the diagram-Fig. l2, somuch-only, however, of the hydraulic operatingl and control-'systemtogether `with its operatic-n being described asis believed necessary toindicate the connection of the present inven` tion therewith.

For convenience of illustration infFig. 12 the tw'o valve blocks 190`and 192 indicated in Fig. l are considered to be asingle paneldesignated iny Fig.- l2 at 304: Other elements of the hydraulic systemso far as disclosed in Fig. 12 include'an oil'reservoir 310, an oil pump312, an oil lter 313 in the oil return system to the reservoir, a highpressure relief valve 316irr a branch ret-urn line in. the pressure linefrom. the pump 312", anda low pressure relief val-ve'318 located vin abranch return line to the reservo-ir'.

The illustrated machine is set up tojprovide-*for'an increment of crossfeeding with each"table/reversal'.` Oil at high pressure is supplied at`one'tablef'reversalfthrough aconduit 338 to thecross feedcontrol Valveport-339. The cross feed control valve body" 25h-shifts* ania-llyand theoil in the. other feed control valve port 340 is exhausted throug'h aVconduit 341. For' effecting an increment of cross. feed Vmovement-atAthe other table reversal, oil under pressure is suppliedV throughconduit 341 tothe'crossfecd control valve-'port 340 causing-the cross'fe'ed` control valve body 250" toshift axial-ly'tM the left while atthe same time oil is exhausted at low pressure through the conduit 338.

Any excess of oil which cannot be accommodated by the cross feed controlvalve body 25() -is dumped into low pressure through ports marked Spillon the diagram, Fig. 12.

Assuming that cross feed is required at each table reversal, highpressure oil will be available to the cross feed control valve 248through a port 331 intoY the panel 304 from the pump 312, and thencepassing through port 343 into the cross feed control valve 248. Highpressure oil hows from the port 343 to port 344 and then to port 345 ofthe measuring valve 244. The measuring valve body 246 moves through lanadjustable stroke under the action of high pressure oil, and a measuredamount of oil leaves port 346 and goes to ports 347 and 348 of the crossfeed control valve 248. The oil then goes through orifice 349 whichcontrols the speed at which the cross feed occurs and then to port 350of the cross feed selector valve 240. If the selector valve is in themiddle or neutral position, the oil from the measuring valve is dumpedinto 101W pressure at port 351. In the neutral position the cross feednut throw-out cylinder 71 is connected to low pressure through ports315, 314. This connects the handwheel 62 and screw 66 to the `cross feedcylinder 54 and the slide can be moved by hand.

The cross feed reversing selector valve 240 can be 46 tufnedsof thatoilffrom the measuringv valveis4 directed into-*thecross fee'l cylinder54p and.` the column support 38 will move either in dri ou-tameasurcdamount with each-.tablet reversal; For exarriplegff-ifL the cross feed.re-

versing selector valve 2'40f'is" turned to. give crossV feedv In, theoil fromthe measuringvlve 244 goes through the conduits1350r352, 354 andmoves the column support. Oil from thehacleisid`e.of--.tlie cross feedcylinder 54 goes-through ports, 35S,- 357land-351` and thenv into lowpressure.y Whenv the cros'szfeed .reversing selector valve 240 isshifted to'give'ei-theran In or Out cross feed, -highipressureoilis-conneeted to the cross feed nut throw-out cylinder. 71,and-tliegcross feedV handwheel 62 and. screw- 66' are disconnected theVcylinder 54.

Wheneeither rapidi positioningfor attruing crossV move` ment of thecolumn-s`upportf38iI is required, the truing andrapid .positioningseleictriv lever: 272 is turned from its neutral positiont Oilrunderhigh pressure is supplied fromfthe pump 312 toa-'the truing and rapidpositioning selector valve 252` through ports 320, 321, 331 and 353. Thevoil goes from port'353 to a port 358 if the Valve isset for rapidpositioning; ancl'from' port 353 to a port 356 if the' valve" is vsetforitr'uing'; Portl 356 has a fixed orice which gives the`V required'-truing: speed.

If Vthecross feed seleetor valve. body` 242 is` in the neutralpo`sitio-n,-o'il passing-through the truing and rapid positioningselector valveV 252ii's'dumped into low pressure;` lf the crossfee'd`reversing selector valve body 242 is'l Set vfor either In-Yor Out;o'ilfatl high pressure from the t'r'uin'gVV andrapidi'positioningfselector valve is directedinto the cross feedcylinde5`4f2 The down feed cylindeif 132,44 asl above described inconnection with Figs@ 3"and''l-2',,is controlled by means ofthedownf-feed seleetorvalve 276* and the manually operabledownfeed-selector' lever 284 which is shift# lable between operatmlt`will'` hev feed-control valve 24g-and-.thecross-feed reverse select-'orfvalve-240 r'errarn' t'l'vvpressreso tha-fthe power--c'ro'S'sf-ffeedll isreride di inoperative, although the crossfeedipistonSS-Ilenfgvcentiee'te'd'- at -ltith-l sidest `to`-low pressure may bemoved in either direction by means of the manual cross feed wheel 62.Although the cross feed reverse selector valve 240 is locked in itsneutral position, the measuring valve 244 will continue to be shiftedfrom one to the other position with each reversal of the table travel asoil under high pressure is alternately supplied to conduit 358 and toconduit 341 and is at the same time exhausted at low pressure from theother of said conduits. As previously noted, the line 344, 345 issupplied with oil at high pressure while oil is being exhausted at lowpressure through the line 346, 347 during the `travel of the table inone direction, and oil at high pressure will be supplied through theline 346, 347 and will be exhausted at low pressure through the line345, 344 during the table travel inthe opposite direction. It is nowassumed thatthe down feed control Valve 276 has been turned to the Onposition. Each. time the line 346, 347 between the cross feed controlvalve 248 and the cross feed measuring valve 244 is supplied with oil athigh pressure, this high pressure oil is forced through a connectingport 362 from the panel, through the down feed control valve 276 at port2813*, and thence through port 282 to the down Vfeed cylinder 132, thusactuating the down feed cylinder piston to impart a stepped down feedingmovement to the grinding wheel carriage 42. As previously noted thepower down feed is effected through the operation of the hydrauliccylinder 132 and its'spring actuated re` turn valve body 150 whichoperates through a pick mechanism to impart a stepped downward feedingmovement tothe grinding wheel carriage 42.

Upon the next t'ablereversal when as above'pointed out, the oil isexhausted through line 346, 347 at low pressure, the spring 156 returnsthe down feed valve body again at low pressure now prevailing in theconnections to the down feed cylinder 132.

The invention having been described what'is claimed is:

1. In a surface grinding-machine havinga base, a traversing worksupporting table, a coiumn slidably mounted from the base for crossfeeding movement relative to the table, and a grinding wheel carriageslidably mounted on the machine column for vertical positioning movementrelative to the table, a fluid pressure operating and control system forthe machine including a uid pressure operated cross feed cylinderconnected between thebase and the column, a manually operable screw andnut mechanism for effecting cross feeding movement of the columnincluding a uid pressure operated nut throwout cylinder, a vertical feedmechanism including ,a manual actuator for effecting vertical movementof said grinding wheel carriage on the column, a power operated downfeeding device for the grinding wheel carriage including a pick devicefor actuating said vertical feed mechanism and a fluid pressure actuateddown feed cylinder connected with said pick mechanism for effectingstepped downward movements of the grinding wheel carriage, fluidpressure connections to each of said cylinders including a cross feedreversing selector valve having alternative reverse and neutralpositions, a fluid pressure actuated connection between said cross feedselector valve and the cross feed nut throw-out cylinder operative foreach reverse position of said cross feed reversing selector valve andinoperative for the intermediate neutral position of said cross feedselector reversing valve to disconnect said screw and nut, a down feedselector valve in said uid pressure connections to the down feed motorhaving alternative operating and neutral positions, and an interlockingdevice between said cross feed selector valve and said down feedselector valve shiftable between alternative positions in which analternate one of said valves is locked in the neutral position.

2. In a surface grinding machine having a base, a traversing worksupporting table, a column slidably mounted fro-m the base for crossfeeding movements relative to the table, and a grinding wheel carriageslidably mounted on the machine column for vertical positioning movementrelative to the table, the combination of a fluid pressure'operating andcontrol system for the machine including a fluid pressure operated crossfeed cylinder connected between the base and the column, a vertical feedmechanism for effecting vertical movement of the grinding wheel carriageon the column, a power operated down feeding device for the grindingwheel carriage including a uid pressure actuated down feed cylinderconnected with said vertical feed mechanism, uid pressure connections toeach of said cylinders including a cross feed reversing selector valvehaving alternative operating and neutral positions, and a down feedselector valve having alternative operating and neutral positions, meansunder the control of the operator for shifting each of said selectorvalves between said operating and neutral positions, and an interlockingdevice between said cross feeding selector valve and said down feedselector valve constructed and arranged for movement between alternativepositions in which an alternate one of said valves is locked in theneutral position.

3. A surface grinding machine according to claim 2 in which a manualcontroller is connected with the cross feed selector valve for movementbetween alternative operating and neutral positions to shift said valvefrom one to another of said alternate operating and intermediate neutralpositions, a manual controller connected with said down feed selectorvalve shiftable between alternative operating and neutral positions tomove said down feed selector valve between alternative operating andneutral positions, and an interlocking device shiftable between oneposition in which said interlocking device engages and locks said crossfeed selector valve manual controller in the neutral position, and asecond position in which said interlocking device engages with and lockssaid down feed selector valve manual controller in the neutral position,said interlocking device and each of said manual controllers havinglocking surfaces adapted for the neutral position of each'of said manualcontrollers to permit movement of the interlocking device into lockingengagement therewith.

Silven May 26, 1942 Terbrueggen Aug. l1, 1942

